Stevie Ray Vaughan And Miles Davis Live On

November 08, 1991|By Chris Heim.

The late Stevie Ray Vaughan and Miles Davis cast long shadows over their respective musical worlds, shadows that will probably grow just a bit longer with the release this week of two new albums featuring their work.

``The Sky Is Crying`` (Epic) is the result of a labor of love by brother Jimmy Vaughan, with whom Stevie Ray recorded his last official album, ``Family Style.`` It brings together previously unreleased studio tracks the blues-rock guitarist did with his band, Double Trouble, between 1984 and 1989. The set is not only a celebration of Vaughan`s talent but also a tribute to some of the artists who influenced him, particularly Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, Lonnie Mack and Muddy Waters. Included are the Elmore James-penned title track, Waters` ``Close to You Baby,`` an instrumental version of Hendrix`s ``Little Wing`` and such Vaughan originals as ``Empty Arms`` and ``So Excited.`` Liner notes come from Vaughan biographer Dan Forte.

``Dingo`` (Warner Bros.) was not supposed to be Miles Davis` last album. In fact, it marked something of a debut for him. It is the soundtrack to a forthcoming film in which he made his theatrical debut as, oddly enough, a reclusive jazz trumpeter. The album, already set for release at the time of Davis` death, features material written by Davis and Michel Legrand. Davis is the featured trumpeter on 8 of the 16 tracks, while Chuck Findley handles lead chores on the remaining numbers. Other players include Kei Akagi and Kenny Garrett from Davis` band, Ray Brown, Alphonse Mouzon, Buddy Collette and Jimmy Cleveland.

Simply Simon & Rushin` Richard

Paul Simon`s triumphant summer performance in New York, the culmination of his ``Rhythm of the Saints`` album and tour, was captured for what will ultimately be a multiformat extravaganza. This week ``Paul Simon`s Concert in the Park`` (Warner Bros.) made its appearance in album form. Video and laserdisc versions are planned in the coming weeks. The set, like the two dates Simon did here during the ``Saints`` tour, features a mix of new material from the recent album and old favorites with a new spin thanks to Simon`s current fascination with African and Brazilian world beat sounds.

Pop idol Richard Marx released his third album this week and the title,

``Rush Street,`` offers a nod to his old home town. Marx`s new label, Capitol, this week also reissued Marx`s first two albums, his self-titled debut and ``Repeat Offender.`` Fans can get a free preview of the new tunes Saturday when Marx appears at East Leyden High School. (See this week`s Concert Line for details.)

Chicago connection

Two Chicago labels, Flying Fish and Delmark Records, served up solid new titles this week.

Flying Fish continued to move smartly beyond its typical folk/traditional music base with three new albums. Chubby Carrier and his Bayou Swamp Band made their Fish debut with a set of hard-driving traditional swamp music called

``Boogie Woogie Zydeco.`` The label also released follow-ups to well-received previous albums from the Farmers and Ed`s Redeeming Qualities, two charmingly quirky minimalist bands with a gift for surprise. The Chicago-based pop Farmers play on ``Volcano,`` while the surreal-folkies in Ed`s chirp up with ``It`s All Good News.``

Delmark dished out a double dose of blues and jazz. West Side blues favorite Willie Kent made his label debut with ``Ain`t It Nice.`` The label also dug into the vaults for a 1968 solo session from Magic Sam called ``Give It Time.`` On the jazz side, Lin Halliday, with special guest Ira Sullivan, is featured on ``Delayed Exposure.`` The Mike Smith Quintet follows last year`s well-received tribute to Cannonball Adderley with a set of new material called ``On a Cool Night.``

Born to be reissued

Another salvo of heat-seeking missiles aimed at your holiday pocketbook, otherwise known as reissues, was launched this week. A retrospective featuring `60s hard-rock heavies Steppenwolf appeared under the title ``Born to Be Wild: The History of Steppenwolf`` (MCA). Pioneering pop-jazz outfit Steely Dan is remembered in a retro-set called ``Gold`` (MCA). ``The Complete Singles Collection`` (EMI) features 18 top o` the pops selections from the Pet Shop Boys. Eighteen tracks from hit rappers Run-D.M.C. were pulled together for

``Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991`` (Profile). The set features two long-out-of-print early singles and a Christmas song that have not previously appeared on album.